Overnight Trains

I rode the overnight train to Erdenet last night which is about a 12 hour ride. I was expecting an uneventful trip and a half decent night sleep. But as the sun went down I heard this accordion music start up down the hall. About 5 sleeper cars down from mine there were these two older guys in semi-eccentric outfits, one playing accordion, and the other singing with the confidence, volume, and theatrics of someone who had preformed for a long time. (guy on the left)

Several more Mongolians packed into there cabin, and before I knew it, I was stomping and clapping along with these Russian and Mongolian folk songs. The lady next to me spoke a little english and she whispered in my ear, "you are very lucky, these two guys are old Mongolian movie stars and also famous singers. They were traveling with a huge group helping to promote this "Election Campaign TV show" (the national elections are at the end of the month). As the singing went on into the night more people joined in and a cameraman for the TV show started filming. But these two guys (I unfortunately cant remember their names) kind of had this back and forth thing going, trying to one up each other with funny songs and various antics.

At one point one of these singing movie stars offered me Vodka from a flask he was nursing. I tried to good naturedly wave it off, but he was persistent. The girl next to me translated for him what I was trying to say "thanks but he dosnt drink vodka". This is where meaning kind of breaks down, but I think he couldnt really understand that someone wouldnt drink a little vodka, so he thought I was messing with him. He looked at my funny, and then with a more knowing look, shook my hand and was like "hahahaha- good one". As if I had really gotten him with my unexpected joke. I started laughing so hard at this misunderstanding, but it only played further into him thinking I was joking. But he didnt offer me any more so I guess it worked out.

I ended up being given a free t-shirt for this promotional "election tv show", and then they drove me free of charge into the city the next morning in a caravan of like 10-15 micro-buses and landcrusiers with huge flags on them advertising the election events. We kind of did a victory lap through town, and then got out and there was this massive group picture. I had not eaten for awhile so I said my goodbyes and set off to try and find some food before I had to visit the local hospital that afternoon. It was an unexpected but welcome turn of events.